Prologue

"Morning, babe." Charlie was roused from sleep by the hand of her partner, Vaggie's pear-shaped lively form seemed lit ablaze at the window in a fiery beam. She pecked up a kiss and Charlie's stomach roiled with butterflies. Awoken by an angel... Charlie moaned softly in response, her own sylphlike body sprawled out under the velvety sheets. Another aroma mingled with her peachy perfume perked up her senses. After all, it was morning scent. "Something smells good."

Vaggie caught a whiff herself. "It's Angel."

"Angel... cooking?" Charlie leaped out of bed and ran to the railings above the kitchen. There, a sight of four arms working in unison delved full view into the steam-shrouded area; only spasmodically did a spider use its fifth limb to sprinkle spices if the rest were busy. Charlie seemed taken aback and stared Angel down from the second floor. "Well, that's a first."

"Not really." Vaggie replied and drew her hair back in a fake ponytail. "As of now, he hasn't tipped off any interest in that kind of thing around here."

From downstairs, across the hall, a high-pitched voice joshed loudly. "Oh, I know what kinda' tip piques my interest, toots."

"This is getting old, Angel..." Vaggie heaved, Charlie looked flustered. Were they too noisy? No, Angel just owned a tad special peripheral vision underneath his lower eyelids; when stirred up with emotion, they could resemble quartz. The two girls were then prompted downstairs, they were heard giggling afterwards.

"Good morning, Angel." Charlie piped up.

"Mornin', blondie."

"You're in a good mood."

Angel shrugged. "Eh, thought it'd be nice to improve the bill'o'fare for a change, it gets boring to fall on the same ol' edibles every day. 'Sides, I kinda miss it."

"Cooking?"

"Italian food."

"I see," she mused and turned a stool around, straddling it. Vaggie sat nex to her. "Guess it would make a pleasant change."

"Trust me, princess," Angel cooed, "it will enhance your underdeveloped gustatory cells, as well."

Charlie chuckled mirthlessly at the comment, a stewpot of rice was steaming in the middle of the table as Angel's arms sprang free. "So, how do you call it?"

"Risotto alla milanese. Plain sailing, nothing too complex." His arms sprang back in, quick like a bullet.

"Toothsome, nonetheless." Vaggie mumbled around a mouthful and swallowed. "Excuse me." She proceeded to sip at her coffee, unaware of the incoming creak at her feet on the floor, when suddenly a hot-pink eyeball flickered nonstop under the table. That giggle...

"Look what the tiny cyclops dragged in." Angel pointed, equally scared and amused at the one-eyed little demon. "Dig in, Niff's." With that, Niffty scurried out excitedly with the promptitude of a houserat. She behaved like a pet, one hungry for... "Woo, maggots!" She shrieked, like she was in pain.

"Actually, Niffty, it's just—"

"Let the chambermaid's fantasy be." Said Angel. "Is Husk up yet?"

Vaggie grumbled under her breath. "Question is, is he sober yet..."

"Oh, bite me, you purple bitch." Husk's raspy voice barged in, walking over with the usual beer bottle in hand. One look at the avian feline and Vaggie threw a riposte of her own. "Yay, the pendejo is up."

Husk quit his drink midway. "What the fuck does that even mean?!"

"It means you're still plastered you see my skin purple."

"You wanna discuss colors? I can gladly smack the grey right off ya'."

Vaggie brandished her spear and aimed it at Husk. "Lay one paw on me and I'll make you mewl kitten 'til your fur gets plucked by the roots." A chilling stillness settled upon the portion of the dining room they were in, they could hear each other's breathing after a spate of retorts. "Feisty spirit," Husk grinned, much to everybody's confusion. "I like that."

Vaggie tucked away her weapon, settling back in her chair to pick back at her food. "Not so bad yourself." She quipped. Husk then took a seat next to Vaggie, who was seated across from Angel and next to Charlie. Niffty was found gobbling up her plate under the table, oddly enough. Without notice, Alastor padded through the corridors, down the stairs. He stared intently at the panorama of amity from afar once the banters were over, followed by unintelligible chatter. The radio demon was unmoved.

"Hey, Smiles... ya' joinin' us?" Angel asked, unsure. Ironically, Alastor's smirk looked ominous rather than inviting, and thought to himself, must I smile with my eyes as well... He merely progressed forward, until he stood mere feet away from the gathering, gazing coolly. First at Angel, then at his pet Husk, whom he noticed had been glaring at him with open ice.

"Oh, my fellow pink arthropod," said Alastor, fiddling with his monocle. "I suppose I could partake in your newfound culinary talents, why not."

"Yeah, quaint phrasing, Bambi Red." Angel gruffed. "Wolf it down then, why don'cha."

Alastor narrowed his eyes in return and interposed himself between Vaggie and Husk, much to the latter's chagrin, whose face twisted to a scowl. Maybe he was still sober to deal with Alastor's shenanigans, but there was something about the Overlord's cordial habits that was making him so jittery. "Hey, Tall Legs," Husk called in nonchalance, he noticed the spider was looking withdrawn all along. "You not eatin'?"

"Already did," Angel said hastily, rearranging his bowtie. "Gotta roll today."

"Right now?" Said Vaggie, Charlie proceeded and placed her hand on his shoulder before he could stand up. "Angel, don't you think it's a little early to... toil away just yet? I mean, this particular method sounds kinda vicious."

"Old habits die hard." He dismissed, pulling back from her touch.

Unlike Charlie, subtlety was not like Husk. "You do know it's detrimental to boink after you eat?"

"Pretty self-defeating, really." Angel muttered in vexation. "I lied, okay? I have an empty stomach, big fuckin' deal."

"Big fuckin' deal, indeed." Husk defied, an angry purring sound trilled involuntarily in his throat, making Angel seethe. "The fuck are you berating me for, puss?"

"You wavered," he heeded. "Preppin' breakfast then attemptin' to take off like that? I think you hide somethin'."

"Look!" Angel raised a hand, making Husk flinch. "I don't have to explain my diurnal grind ruts to anyone, so don't act surprised." With that, he began heading off. "By the way, I ain't doin' the dishes," he added before slamming the door shut. "Godere, ungracious bastards, you're fuckin' welcome." Then a loud bang.

"Well..." Alastor sneered, gazing down at his fingernails. "Guess that's one fry short of a happy meal."